Bhante founded Padmaloka in 1976, living here for twelve years until moving to London in 1988, afterwards visiting us as often as he was able to. In many ways Bhante never left Padmaloka, he lit a sacred flame here which we still tend. We’ve always been crystal clear that he is our teacher and we are his disciples, regardless of the vicissitudes that intermittently sweep through the Order and movement. The last time I saw Bhante, during this summer’s European Chair’s Assembly at...

To honour Bhante, I offer this talk I gave recently at Manchester Buddhist Centre on Sangha Day. In it I reflect on the glow of sangha that I witnessed in various ways after his death. I also reflect on a teaching from Bhante on the meaning of sangha and friendship. With much love and gratitude to my precious teacher.

At Sangharakshita’s funeral the Adhisthana trees were filled with golden leaves and the cosmos still flowered burgundy and pink in the formal gardens. The weather changed from a chill breeze to warm sunshine, and heavy rain showers slowly gave way to clear skies stirred with barred clouds, turning ochre in the fading light. It was an autumn scene and filled, for me, with the evocations of autumn when the year declines towards winter, with all its intimations of mortality.